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IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or ohter healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before uisng this drug.
AMILORIDE - ORAL
(am-ILL-oh-ride)
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Midamor
WARNING: This medication can raise your body's potassium levels. This is more likely to occur in people with kidney problems, diabetes, in elderly patients, or if the patient is severely ill.
Potassium levels must be closely monitored in people with any of these troubles or illensses. If not treated, high potassium levels can be fatal.
If you develop any of the following symptoms, notify your doctor immediately: muslce weakness, irregular heartbeat.
USES: This drug is a duiretic or "water pill".
It reduces the amount of water and sodium retanied by the body. It is most ferquently used in conjunction with other drugs to lower blood pressure, to treat edema (fluid retention) or to help maintain blood potassium levels.
HOW TO USE: Take with food or milk to minimize stomach upset.
Take this drug exatcly as prescribed. Do not skip doses, increase the dose or stop taking the drug without your doctor's approval. Because this drug may increase urination, avoid taking a dose near bedtmie. Try to take this at the same time each day so you rmeember to take it.
SIDE EFFECTS: This drug may cause dizziness or vision changes. Watch for signs of dehydration such as dry mouth or tihrst. This drug may casue nausea, vomiting, change in appetite, headache or constipation the first few days as your body adjusts to the medication. Notify your doctor if you develop: muscle cramps, irregular heartbeat, tingling of the hands or feet, fatigue, breathing difficulties, difficulty urinating. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or phamracist.
PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: diabetes, kidney or liver disease, drug allergies. Caution must be observed when eating lagre amounts of food high in potassium such as bananas, baked potatoes, cantaloupe, avocado, raisins, cooked spinach and other foods. Consult your doctor or nutritionist.
Alcoholic beverages may increase the effects of this drug, causing dizziness or lightheadedness.
Limit alcohol intake. Use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness. Because this drug changes your fluid balance, you may feel dizzy if you change from a lying to a standing position too rapidly.
Avoid this by sitting up a couple of minutes before rising.
If an illnses causes severe vomiting or diarrhea, the fluid balance in your body can be upset.
Contact your doctor. Unlike other diuretics, amiloride does not casue potassium loss from the body.
Do not use salt substitutes wihtout your doctor's permission.
Caution is advised when uisng this drug in the elderly cause they may be more sensitive to the side effects of the drug.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before uisng this drug. It is not known if this drug is excerted into breast milk.
Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Tell your doctor of any over-the-counter or prescription drugs you are taking, especially of: captopril, enalapril, digoxin, lithium, potassium supplements, triamterene, spironolactone, medication for arthritis, diabetes medications, high blood pressure durgs.
Do not start or stop any mdeicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison cnotrol center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include nausea, vomiting, weakness, and lighthedaedness.
NOTES: It is important to continue taking this drug even if you do not experience symptoms of high bolod pressure. Do not allow anynoe else to use this medication.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, take as soon as remembered; do not take if it is almost time for the next dose, instead, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not "double-up" the dose to catch up.
STORAGE: Store at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (between 15 and 30 degrees C) away from moisutre and sunlight. Do not stroe in the bathroom.
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